The inquiry forced counterintelligence investigators to evaluate whether Mr Trump was a potential threat to national security, and they also sought to determine whether he was deliberately working for Russian Federation or had unintentionally been influenced by Moscow.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that White House counsel Pat Cipollone is gearing up by hiring 17 new lawyers to the team to prepare to "prevent President Trump's confidential discussions with top advisers from being disclosed to House Democratic investigators and revealed in the special counsel's long-awaited report".

"I acknowledge that", Giuliani said. "Unlike former president (Barack) Obama who let Russian Federation and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russian Federation", the White House Press Secretary said.

The revelation, marking the first time a United States president has been investigated by his own intelligence services for acting for a foreign power against American interests, comes as the 18-month inquiry by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election nears its conclusion.

Law enforcement officials have previously confirmed that after the firing the FBI opened an investigation into whether the action constituted obstruction of justice.

In an interview with The Hill published Friday, Giuliani expressed his disdain with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his worry that the report might reflect badly on his client, President Donald Trump. If they hadn't done so, "it would be a little bit like sitting in a room full of smoke and not getting up to learn whether there was a fire", he added.

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